400 MWe of KKNPP Unit 2 to be synchronised to the grid in 30-45 days

Once the second unit at Kudankulam begins operating at full capacity, the total atomic power capacity in Tamil Nadu will go up to 2,440 MW

The first stage synchrnoisation of 400 MWe power from the second unit of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) to the southern grid is expected within the next 30-45 days, according to KKNPP officials. The unit attained criticality on Sunday night.

"At the first stage, the plant will be synchronised to the southern grid with about 400 MWe power within the expected period of 30-45 days from the date of criticality. In the subsequent stages, after completion of procedural and regulatory requirements, power will be increased in steps of 50%, 75%, 90% and 100%," said RS Sundar, site director and outstanding scientist, KKNPP.

The reactor power will be increased in stages to the full capacity as per laid down procedures and regulatory clearances, he added.

According to Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), at present 21 nuclear reactors in seven plants have a total plant capacity of 5,780 MWe in the country and the new unit will be adding its capacity to this, once fully operational.

Once the second unit at Kudankulam begins operating at full capacity, the total atomic power capacity in Tamil Nadu would go up to 2,440 MW, including the 1,000 MW from the first unit of KKNPP and two 220 MW units in Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS), Kalpakkam.

The second unit attained first criticality, which is attaining controlled self-sustaining nuclear fission chain reaction in the Reactor for the first time, on Sunday night. The process of First Approach to Criticality (FAC) was started on July 8, 2016 with the dilution of the boric acid in the primary coolant water and the neutron multiplication in the reactor core of the second unit.

The second unit is the 22nd nuclear power reactor in the country and India's second Pressurised Water Reactor belonging to Light Water Reactor category. With this, now the KKNPP site holds a distinction for having two largest power reactors in the country. The units of KKNPP are VVER-1000 type reactors setup with technical cooperation from the Russian Federation.

The reactors in the second unit is generation III+ reactors, incorporating a combination of active safety systems as well as passive safety systems and a combination of multi-layered safety features, which ensures safety of the plant, public and environment, said the officials.

According to the Department of Atomic Energy, the works for third and fourth units in the KKNPP has also been initiated and various site infrastructure development works are in progress.

The organisations protesting against the nuclear power project said that the move to start the third and fourth units, when the first unit has stopped production for almost 32 times after it was commissioned due to various issues, is a "unilateral and atrocious announcement".